Waxworms don't feed on bees, but do eat beeswax [plus pollen, cocoons, and shed bee exoskeletons]. These moth larvae chew through the comb and cause honey to spill everywhere, making a mess that is also a breeding site for bacteria. read more
But don’t think the whole world is out to get the bees. Animals that live in the nests of others, ideally without being too much of a nuisance, are called “inquilines.” The mite Parasitus fucorum of the family Parasitidae is an inquiline of bumble bees, eating debris and garbage in the hive. read more
But despite being so tough, there are some basic things bees need to survive, and plenty of problems that can befall them. Let’s briefly go over what bees need and don’t need. What bees need has been covered for the most part in Installing and Preparing your Beehive. read more
Bees and other insect pollinators are beset by the same environmental challenges as other species, including habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation; non-native species and diseases; pollution, including pesticides; and climate change. read more